Word is out that Columbia Pictures is entering “advanced talks” with David Fincher (”Se7en,” “Fight Club,” “Zodiac”) to direct a film revolving around the birth of Facebook, the immensely popular online social network created in 2004 by computer whiz turned-entrepreneur Mark Zuckerberg.

Aaron Sorkin (”The West Wing”) is working on a script based on Ben Mezrich’s yet-to-be released book “The Accidental Billionaires,” which allegedly depicts the scandalous origins behind Zuckerberg’s Internet empire. Shia LaBeouf and Michael Cera have been tagged as strong candidates for the role of Zuckerberg, who left Harvard after Facebook’s meteoric rise and vaulted to the Forbes 400 last year as the world’s youngest billionaire.

Tentatively titled “The Social Network,” the film—set to begin production later this year—would imply a significant change in subject for Fincher (”The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”), whose success as a filmmaker is often attributed to his ability to handle a diverse array of film genres and narrative tropes. Should be interesting; stay tuned for further developments.

Image Source: Reuters

His legacy as an entertainer was hardly limited to the concert stage. In 1986, Michael Jackson starred in the film “Captain EO,” conceived by Disney in the form of a 3-D theme park attraction. With characteristic flourish, the late King of Pop—playing the fearless titular hero—performs a number to convert the icy heart of his alien nemesis (Anjelica Huston). The director? Francis Ford Coppola, of “Apocalypse Now” and “The Godfather” fame.

Song title: “We Are Here to Change the World”

Jackson, Coppola and producer George Lucas on the set of “Captain EO.”

Sources: YouTube / Internet Movie Database

UC Berkeley’s Center for Japanese Studies has released a bevy of new details about Hayao Miyazaki’s visit to the campus next month, and so far it’s looking spectacular. From PFA screenings to a film premiere and rare live appearance from the man himself, the program looks to capture all facets of the filmmaker’s celebrated body of work, including the ideas and issues that drive his cinematic sensibilities. Full details up ahead.

A side note: “Spirited Away” snagged an Oscar for Best Animated Feature back in 2002. Guess who was there to accept the award? Not Miyazaki. (Just to show how significant this US visit will be and, above all, how fortunate we are to have a director of this stature grace the Berkeley campus.)

Without further ado, the program of events: (Click here to read more…)

As has been reported by numerous news Web sites and stations, Michael Jackson, the king of pop, has passed away after suffering cardiac arrest. TMZ broke the story, and as of now, there are not many details to follow.

There is no doubt of the influence Jackson has had on popular music and on college-aged students everywhere, who grew up with the idea of him as the definition of a pop star. Look in Thursday’s arts section Monday’s paper for an article about his influence and accomplishments. For now, all we can leave you with is a simple YouTube of a song that can speak for itself:

EDIT: Updated for accuracy.

Michael Jackson -- Billie Jean [YouTube]

It’s tough to say to what degree the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science’s decision to double the best-picture nomination pool was motivated by some kind of money-making ploy because, honestly, what isn’t these days? Everything feels like a publicity stunt in some form or another, so when the academy claims they’re trying to make the award possible for a broader range of movies or to reconnect with the actual movie-going public, your first thought is probably to cut through the bullshit and figure out what effect this’ll actually have on the film industry.

Does this mean the academy is pandering to a world that would actually pay $10 to see “The Hangover” by nominating a greater number of movies people have actually seen? Or are they truly attempting to give more deserving films–animated, documentaries, foreign or otherwise–a chance at the movie award to trump all movie awards?

According to the academy’s president, Sydney Ganis, the words, “The Dark Knight” were thrown around. Then again, if that particular monster blockbuster had nominated for best picture, how many more people would have tuned in to watch the Academy Awards ceremony? Apparently, back in the ’30s and early ’40s, there were between eight and 12 best-picture nominees per year. But more films came out back then.

In any case, this should make this year’s awards a little more interesting

Image Source: buschap under Creative Commons
Motion Picture Academy Expands Best-Picture Pool to 10 [NY Times]

In January’s Most Anticipated Films of ‘09 post, I had Martin Scorsese’s “Shutter Island” at number 9. Below Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds.” Below Guy Ritchie’s “Sherlock Holmes.” Below (comparatively) modest entries by two of Marty’s most prominent would-be imitators.

I’m taking this opportunity to make a formal apology.

Meanwhile, a few thoughts on the most influential American filmmaker of his era: (Click here to read more…)